Arkansas Tech University President Dr. Robert C. Brown made a promise in 2011 that when the institution’s Accelerated Degree Program enrolled its 1,000th student, he would host a reception in honor of the faculty and staff who made it possible.

It took just 16 months for Arkansas Tech to reach that milestone.

The university enrolled its 1,000th student in the Accelerated Degree Program in January, and the reception celebrating that accomplishment took place on Monday at the Lake Point Conference Center.

“I want you all to know how much I appreciate the contribution that each one of you has made,” said Brown. “This has truly been a university-wide effort. I thought it would take a while, but together you have achieved this milestone at a much quicker pace than I could have imagined.”

The Arkansas Tech Accelerated Degree Program was announced in August 2011. It is designed to help working adults complete a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree.

Adults who have earned 60 or more credit hours can earn a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree from Arkansas Tech in 18 months or less in one of seven areas of concentration — agricultural business, criminal justice, early childhood education, industrial/organizational psychology, information technology, interdisciplinary studies and public relations.

All of the courses are available completely through distance learning with an option of taking eight-week accelerated courses. New courses are rotated on a weekly basis.

As a result of the student-centered approach in the Accelerated Degree Program, the number of students completing a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree at Arkansas Tech has increased from 11 graduates in 2008 to 222 graduates in 2012.

The number of student semester credit hours in the Bachelor of Professional Studies program went from 648 in 2008-09 to 5,183 in 2012-13.

To date, 4,300 prospective students have expressed an interest in the Arkansas Tech Accelerated Degree Program since it was launched in 2011.

“The key is the personal touch we are able to provide,” said Jeff Aulgur, department head for the Arkansas Tech Bachelor of Professional Studies program. “We are able to evaluate students’ transcripts and tell them their path to graduation before they even apply for admission.”

Arkansas Tech was the first public university in the state to dedicate significant staff and financial resources to a 100 percent online degree completion program.

A full-time staff of six faculty members and two academic advisors work with Accelerated Degree Program students to help them achieve their academic objectives.

The Accelerated Degree Program is housed in the Arkansas Tech College of Professional Studies and Community Outreach. Dr. Mary Ann Rollans serves as dean of the college.

“Allow me to commend one of your colleagues to you,” said Brown during the reception on Monday. “If you want to get something done, transfer Dr. Rollans to it and she’ll get it done.”

For more information about the online degree completion program at Arkansas Tech, call (479) 968-0318, call toll free to (855) 264-0821 or visit www.atu.edu/accelerateddegree.